Rangers Feel The Heat

WYRLEY JUNIORS FC WANDERERS 0-3 MERE GREEN RANGERS
(G) KELLAND (A) DELPORT
(G) WHITE (A) DELPORT
(G) DELPORT (A) WHITE

(MOMs GODSELL/WHITE)

“Sound can wash clothes.” – Sun Ra

Today’s fixture was our second game in three days and not only did the boys have to contend with possible fatigue but they had to handle one of the hottest afternoons of the year so far. Wyrley have been on a fantastic unbeaten run recently that saw them shoot up to third in the table and threaten to creep into the promotion places. Our victory on Friday meant that Wyrley couldn’t catch us but this didn’t mean that they didn’t want to finish their campaign in style. Their coach Lee has a group of industrious and physically strong players that have been going great guns. It has been wonderful to see the Rangers achieve promotion from this division and continue unbeaten to this point, their maturity and game management is evidently a side of their game that has grown in the latter stages of this hectic period. The Rangers’ Army were again in fine voice today and with emergency sun lotion in the first aid bag they kicked off for another big game in their season…

First Half

The boys in green kicked off and were quick to get themselves on the front foot. We had asked the boys to consider the conditions and to let the ball do the work with their passing game to the fore we also wanted them to manage energy levels. George LeFort received the ball from Jack White from the kick off and stroked a pass out to George Hope on the right. Hope moved the ball swiftly down the channel to Ben Underwood who drew his man and then slotted a pass in for White. Our No.14 twisted and turned before releasing a powerful drive on target. The home keeper showed good handling as he caught and fell on the shot to deny an opening. Max Petty showed great strength to shepherd a long ball away from his opponent before clipping a pass in for Ben Lea, Lea played Luke Joeres in and our No.5 burst into space and after beating two defenders slid a pass in for Ryan Delport. Delport whipped a fierce drive for goal but the ball fell just wide of the post. Sonny Kelland was having a ding dong battle with the big holding midfielder and did well to steal possession and loop a ball into space for Underwood. Our No.9 reversed a pass to the overlapping Hope. Hope drove a cross into the box and Delport looked to strike but his effort was deflected away for the corner. Kelland whipped in a cross to the near post, the keeper tried to catch but couldn’t hold, White and Delport converged but couldn’t get a decisive touch as the ball somehow fell wide. Theo Caldicott was off his line and quick to catch a dangerous looking ball. The Rangers’ No.1 sent a long ball forward that Delport latched onto, Delport shot…the ball was parried and White followed in with a header but the ball went agonisingly over the bar. Joeres won possession and sent a ball in for Delport who crossed for Underwood. The Rangers’ No.9 did well to control and win the corner off his marker. Delport whipped the ball in, the keeper couldn’t get to the flight of the ball and the cross bounced just in front of goal. Kelland arrived to smash the ball in but the big defender made a stunning block to prevent concession and still the Rangers couldn’t find the breakthrough. Wyrley launched an attack and Lea rose imperiously to head powerfully away. The ball was pumped back and Petty was on hand to slide the ball away from danger, the home side continued to press though and got the ball out to the quick winger. Hope reacted speedily to get across and challenge and in the process did enough to force his opponent into skewing the ball wide. Caldicott took the goal kick and found LeFort in the midfield. LeFort drove forward and found Underwood, Underwood returned the pass and then LeFort slotted White in on the edge of the box. White found Delport, Delport played a first time ball to Kelland who was hovering outside the area, our No.10 smashed a first time thunderbolt into the top corner of the net and finally the Rangers got the breakthrough that their composed play deserved. 0-1 The Rangers produce a wonderful team move to finally break the deadlock. Luca Thornton tackled superbly; our No.2 then seemed to slow time as he distributed a composed pass to LeFort. LeFort drove forward and then sent a pass in for Reo Grant-Parnell. Our No.11 showed quick feet and the raced to the by-line before sending in a pacey cross, the keeper got something on it to divert the ball out to White. White smashed the ball for goal but the keeper was up quickly and made a confident catch to quell the danger. Lea headed clear superbly and Petty swept up any danger as the defence looked to see out the half confidently. Thornton played a pass in to Delport and then received a return ball on the edge of the area. Our No.2 sent a ball across to Kelland who once again thundered a shot in that was this time well saved by the home keeper. Kelland tackled the Wyrley CDM and smuggled the ball to White. White drove a fierce shot on goal that beat the keeper but whistled just wide of the upright. Grant-Parnell got the ball from Hope and then turned a ball inside for LeFort, LeFort made space for himself and crashed a shot from range that flew just over the bar. Joeres won possession and found Lea, Lea played a straight pass in for Kelland. Kelland clipped the ball inside White who in turn fed a pass in behind the back line for Delport, our No.7 cut across the keeper but before he could finish the covering defender connected and played the ball into his own net. The flag rose and the referee went over to speak with the linesman, after deliberation the offside decision stood and the goal chalked off. Towards the end of the half the home side pushed for a way back in to the game and Petty, Lea, Hope and Thornton were all action as they blocked, tackled and cleared danger. Caldicott was calm and composed in marshalling and collecting balls into the box and as the whistle sounded the Rangers came in for fluids and to rest in the increasing heat.

Half Time 0-1

“Play the pass, let the ball do the work. We aren’t tired yet and we are playing at a pace that is uncomfortable for them. Keep calm, play your football and enjoy the game.” The boys looked exhausted but no-one sat down, everyone was ready to go again. We knew the next goal was going to be the important one, if we could get it we were sure that it would hurt the opposition irreparably. They took a deep breath, threw ice water over their heads and walked out for the second half in a focussed mood.

Second Half

The temperature was soaring but the boys showed great maturity in using their passing game to stretch the opposition. Petty won the ball and squeezed a pass to Lea. Our No.4 found Godsell and soon the Rangers were looking to get the ball forward. Godsell got the ball to Joeres who hit a pass through to Kelland, Kelland played a pass back to Joeres who roamed forward and sent an accurate pass out to Delport. Our No.7 curled an inch perfect ball between the centre backs for White who chested the ball down in front of him before accelerating to beat the keeper and side foot a lovely finish into the corner of the net. 0-2 The boys in green get the vital second goal after good passing and quick thinking. Caldicott was out quickly to stifle a long ball into the box and then sent a pass in for Hope, Hope played a pass inside for Petty. Our No.17 then drove a pass forward to Kelland who clipped a reverse pass through for White. White twisted and turned before playing a ball in behind the defence for Delport to latch onto. Delport sped into the area and then drew the keeper before smashing a drive low into the near corner. 0-3 The Rangers seize the momentum and punish the home side with a second half quick double. Grant-Parnell took a pass from Godsell and then drove forward before playing a ball inside to LeFort, LeFort found Kelland and our No.10 switched a pass in for Joeres. Joeres burst into the box and looked to shoot, the defenders conspired to block out the effort from Joeres but Godsell was quick to get the ball back. Our No.3 then drove forward and played a neat one-two with Thornton. Godsell travelled forward and found Underwood. Underwood held the ball up and bought Grant-Parnell back in to play. Our No.11 drifted inside and found LeFort who struck for goal from just inside the area but the ball flew over the bar. A long ball over the top saw Lea and Petty quickly into action and although the big winger looked clean through, Petty displayed great dynamism to recover ground and tackle the striker accurately. Petty then slotted a pass back to Caldicott who drew the forward before returning the ball to his team mate. Petty sent a ball into the channel for Joeres who cut through the back line before holding up the ball and playing in LeFort who had made a galloping run in support. LeFort cut inside before smashing a fierce drive just wide. The referee called a drinks break and as we prepared the players to go again we were informed that a number of opposition players were suffering from heat exhaustion and for the welfare of the players it was agreed to end the game early.

We had already secured promotion but we wanted to get a positive result as we headed into the title decider next week. The boys were magnificent in their control and mature approach to such a difficult game.

Onwards and Upwards!

Up The Rangers!